Saturday 27 July 2019

Wallabies win dour clash with disappointing Pumas

Australia bounced back from last week's disappointing loss in Johannesburg as they overcame Argentina 16-10 at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

The result moves them up to third place in the Rugby Championship standings, just two points behind New Zealand who they face on August 10.

It was a fitting farewell to the Brisbane venue from Will Genia as he put in an assured performance on his last match at the ground, while Christian Lealiifano enjoyed a strong return to international rugby, orchestrating the game nicely for the 50 minutes he was on the field.

Reece Hodge crossed the whitewash for Australia, with Lealiifano kicking eight points, while Facunda Isa went over for Argentina late on.  This is the Pumas' second defeat in this year's competition as they are now rooted to the foot of the table ahead of hosting South Africa.

The Wallabies led 10-3 at the end of an error-strewn first half at Suncorp Stadium, with both sides' games littered with handling mistakes.

However, one moment of brilliance from Australia saw them score the all-important first try, which proved the difference at the turnaround.

Australia took the lead on 11 minutes through the boot of Lealiifano, this after Argentina second-row Tomás Lavanini had hands in the ruck.

Izack Rodda would soon launch an attack from deep for the hosts but, as mentioned, a handling error from said player ultimately foiled it.

Sanchez would haul the Pumas back level on 24 minutes as Sekope Kepu's decision to try and bat the ball back whilst on the floor backfired.

But the moment of the half came six minutes later as Marika Koroibete's line bust led to the overlap being smartly used, with Kurtley Beale grabbing the assist and feeding Hodge who finished well.  With the superb conversion from Lealiifano, the Wallabies had a seven-point buffer.

That lead would grow just two minutes into the second 40 when the Pumas were penalised for angling in at scrum time, Lealiifano converting.

The returning Brumbies fly-half was on target again in the 51st minute when a powerful Wallabies scrum got the better of their Pumas rivals.  That was Lealiifano's last act of the game as he was replaced by Toomua, with the former giving a warm reception as he departed the action.

Unfortunately the game dipped in quality thereafter as there was no further score in the next 23 minutes.  Argentina, though, would thankfully end the drought as Isa crossed after splitting from the tail of a maul, with the two from replacement Joaquín Díaz Bonilla making it 16-10.

Australia's dominance at scrum time continued, however and three minutes from time Matt Toomua should have slotted three points to seal the victory.  He was unsuccessful but it mattered not for the Wallabies as they comfortably held on to get their first victory of this campaign.

The scorers:

For Australia:
Try:  Hodge
Con:  Lealiifano
Pens:  Lealiifano 2

For Argentina:
Try:  Isa
Con:  Bonilla
Pen:  Sanchez

Australia:  15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Reece Hodge, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Salakai-Loto, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements:  16 Tolu Latu, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Luke Jones, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 James O’Connor

Argentina:  15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements:  16 Santiago Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 23 Matías Orlando

Referee:  Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees:  Paul Williams (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO:  Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

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All Blacks stunned as late try sees them draw with Boks

Herschel Jantjies was once again the South African hero as the scrum-half touched down late on to help rescue a 16-16 draw against the All Blacks in Wellington.

The Springboks controlled the opening half-hour and deservedly went 6-0 in front via Handre Pollard but one error saw New Zealand hit back as Jack Goodhue touched down for a 7-6 lead at the interval.

Beauden Barrett then added a penalty early in the second period to extend the hosts’ buffer but Pollard kept Rassie Erasmus’ men in contention.

There was little between the two but the defending world champions appeared to display the greater control and quality in the latter exchanges and moved 16-9 up through successive Richie Mo’unga three-pointers.

There was one last sting in the tail from South Africa, however, as Jantjies crossed the whitewash – Pollard converting – to level matters late on.

It means that the Boks reside at the top of the Rugby Championship table with one round remaining while the All Blacks, who once again failed to fire in attack, sit in second.

There was plenty of excitement before the game with the introduction of Mo’unga and the selection of Barrett at full-back, but the former began rather nervously.

Twice the fly-half’s kicks were charged down and it allowed a confident Springboks side to get on the front foot.  They capitalised on the hosts’ errors and were rewarded by the accurate boot of Pollard, who kicked two penalties for a 6-0 advantage.

His playmaking team-mate was also struggling and their decision-making was quite simply atrocious in the opening quarter.  There were mistakes aplenty and the full-back, who surprisingly took on kicking duties, missed a relatively simple chance to reduce the arrears.

South Africa were almost toying with the home side.  Their defence was exceptional and the half-backs – Faf de Klerk and Pollard – were varying the kicking game nicely.

As a result of the pressure exerted, the Springbok pivot was handed another opportunity, but this time his effort was awry off the tee.

It was to prove costly as the visitors failed to garner the points their dominance deserved.  Even when New Zealand are playing poorly, they are always dangerous off turnover ball and one moment of quality was the away team’s undoing.

South Africa knocked on in the midfield and the space opened up out wide for Barrett to scamper down the right.  Goodhue was on his shoulder and, after receiving a pass from the full-back, the centre crossed the whitewash unopposed for a one-point advantage at the break.

Buoyed by that score, the All Blacks displayed much more composure at the start of the second half and extended their lead via Barrett’s three-pointer.

Erasmus’ men were now the side making the needless errors, but they were kept in the game by the errant boot of New Zealand’s kicker, who missed his second penalty attempt.

Following that miss, the visitors responded when Pollard kicked another three-pointer – a minute after Brodie Retallick had sustained a nasty-looking shoulder injury – but Mo’unga immediately restored the four-point gap.

It meant a tense final 10 minutes but the All Blacks seemed to take control through a second penalty from their fly-half.  However, South Africa produced a fine move in the final minute as Cheslin Kolbe raced down the right and chipped ahead.  Jantjies was in support and, although he received a bit of luck by not knocking on under pressure from Aaron Smith, the youngster collected and touched down.

The scrum-half should have taken it closer to the uprights in preparation for the conversion but it did not matter as Pollard added the extras to dramatically tie the game.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Try:  Goodhue
Con:  Barrett
Pens:  Barrett, Mo’unga 2

For South Africa:
Try:  Jantjies
Con:  Pollard
Pens:  Pollard 3

New Zealand:  15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements:  16 Dane Coles, 17 Ofa Tuungafasi, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 George Bridge

South Africa:  15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:  16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel

Referee:  Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees:  Angus Gardner (Australia), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO:  Rowan Kitt (England)

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Saturday 20 July 2019

Improved Maori All Blacks beat Fiji in Rotorua

The Maori All Blacks bounced back from last week's loss to Fiji by beating the same opposition 26-17 in Rotorua to level the two-game series.

Scores from Sean Wainui, Rob Thompson, Alex Nankivell and Isaia Walker-Leawere saw them to victory, with Otere Black slotting six points.

In reply the Fijians scored tries through Veremalua Vugakoto and John Dyer while Alivereti Veitokani sent over two conversions and a penalty.

The teams went into the break locked at seven points apiece after a tight first half, with the Maori All Blacks much improved from last week.

Fiji would take the lead, however, on nine minutes when a superb between-the-legs pass from back-row Dominiko Waqaniburotu put hooker Vugakoto over on the left.  With the successful conversion from Veitokani, John McKee's men had themselves a handy early advantage.

That lead did not last long though as the hosts hit back five minutes later, Wainui adding to his two tries in Suva with another crossing.  It came from a good pass from inside centre Nankivell as pressure on the Fijian finally told, with his Chiefs team-mate going over to make it 7-7.

Veitokani would miss a penalty attempt on 31 minutes but an entertaining first half of action was edged by the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua.

They got the vital opening score of the second half when Thompson crossed thanks to an excellent pass from scrum-half Bryn Hall for 14-7.

Veitokani did respond off the tee on 52 minutes to cut the gap to four points, which was how it stayed until the hour mark, before Nankivell collected a cross-field kick from Black that had come loose.  Black could not slot the difficult extras but the hosts were two scores clear.

That advantage grew when Walker-Leawere, who had replaced the injured Pari Pari Parkinson earlier in the second period, made it 26-10 after he went over for a converted try on 64 minutes that seemed to put the match beyond doubt in front of the watching 13,000 fans.

Fiji did rally late on with a try from substitute Dyer after an impressive scrum near to the whitewash, which made it 26-17 with just four minutes left in the game.  But the Maori All Blacks had enough of a cushion to see out the game and make it a tied series with the Fijians.

The scorers:

For Maori All Blacks:
Tries:  Wainui, Thompson, Nankivell, Walker-Leawere
Cons:  Black 3

For Fiji:
Tries:  Vugakoto, Dyer
Cons:  Veitokani 2
Pen:  Veitokani

Maori All Blacks:  15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Jordan Hyland, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Otere Black, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Mitch Karpik, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Ross Wright
Replacements:  16 Nathan Harris, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Teihorangi Walden

Fiji:  15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Patrick Osbourne, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Jale Vatubua, 11 Filipo Nakosi, 10 Alivereti Veitokani, 9 Henry Seniloli, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Mosese Voka, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 4 Tevita Ratuva, 3 Lee-Roy Atalifo 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 1 Campese Ma’afu
Replacements:  16 Samuel Matavesi, 17 Joeli Veitayaki, 18 Luke Tagi, 19 Albert Tuisue, 20 John Dyer, 21 Serupepeli Vularika, 22 Sevanaia Galala, 23 Josh Matavesi

Referee:  Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees:  Damon Murphy (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO:  James Leckie (Australia)

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Pumas go agonisingly close against All Blacks

New Zealand held on to pick up a 20-16 win over Argentina in their opening Rugby Championship game of 2019 in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Despite not scoring a point in the second stanza, the All Blacks managed to keep their noses in front at full-time as the Pumas were kept at bay.

Ngani Laumape and Brodie Retallick crossed for New Zealand in the first period while Beauden Barrett kicked two conversion and two penalties.

In reply the Pumas' try scorer was Emiliano Boffelli, who also added a penalty, while Nicolás Sánchez slotted two penalties and a conversion.

New Zealand would have been delighted to head into the break leading 20-9 after an evenly contested first half at Jose Amalfitani Stadium.

They were six points down with as many minutes on the clock after Sánchez and Boffelli landed a penalty goal each after All Black offences.

However, there was a drastic change in momentum on 16 minutes after fly-half Barrett's chip ahead put Argentina in all kinds of bother.  Penalty offences would then go against the hosts before a quickly taken tap by Aaron Smith led to Laumape crashing over under the uprights.

Sánchez did manage to nudge the hosts back in front at 9-7 on 21 minutes, but Barrett responded soon after as the lead changed hands again.

At this point New Zealand were still on top and closed out the first half strongly, with Barrett's second penalty then followed up by Retallick's crossing on the stroke of half-time.  The lock galloped over untouched from 40 metres out after gleefully collecting a stray Sánchez pass.

The first 20 minutes after the interval was all Argentina, however, as Sanchez's high kick under a penalty advantage saw Boffelli collect and go over.  That proved the confidence booster the Pumas needed and they were unlucky not to have cut the lead further after a missed penalty.

At 20-16 down the Pumas knew they could not let the All Blacks regroup and needed to keep the pressure on, as both sides went to the bench.

Argentina did go agonisingly close to scoring on the left wing, but Ramiro Moyano's foot was in touch before he got his offload back inside.  Despite their disappointment one sensed the hosts would have at least one more opportunity in the closing nine minutes to seal a famous win.

That opportunity came with time running into the red but from an attacking line-out five metres out their maul was stifled and the hopes of victory extinguished, with New Zealand holding on to claim four points on the road as they now head home to Wellington to face South Africa.

The scorers:

For Argentina:
Try:  Boffelli
Con:  Sanchez
Pens:  Sanchez 2, Boffelli

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Laumape, Retallick
Cons:  B Barrett 2
Pens:  B Barrett 2

Argentina:  15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements:  16 Julián Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 23 Joaquín Tuculet

New Zealand:  15 Ben Smith, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Jordie Barrett, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ofa Tuungafasi
Replacements:  16 Liam Coltman, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Braydon Ennor

Referee:  Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees:  Andrew Brace (Ireland), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO:  Graham Hughes (England)

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Bonus-point win for impressive Springboks

South Africa kicked off their Rugby Championship campaign on a positive note as they overcame Australia 35-17 in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Herschel Jantjies enjoyed a dream debut as he scored two while Lood de Jager, S'bu Nkosi and Cobus Reinach also crossed to seal the bonus.

In reply the Wallabies' two tries came via Dane Haylett-Petty and Bernard Foley as they struggled at Ellis Park in a disappointing showing.

The Springboks were leading 14-10 at the interval in an evenly contested first period, with Australia possibly feeling upset not to be in front.

Defences were on top early on before Nkosi broke down the right wing on 11 minutes before finding his scrum-half Jantjies in support.  It was the ideal nerve settling score for the debutant and his namesake, Elton, added the simple extras as South Africa moved seven points up.

Foley did cut the lead to four points on 17 minutes after a breakdown offence and they went close to moving in front soon after as centre Samu Kerevi's pass to flank Lukhan Salakaia-Loto saw him gallop over.  However, that pass was adjudged to have been forward by the TMO.

After that fillip, the Boks were then dealt a blow when centre Andre Esterhuizen was yellow carded for making a high tackle on Tom Banks.  However, it did not affect them in the immediate aftermath as Pieter-Steph du Toit's chip kick over the top led to De Jager burrowing over.

Australia needed to rally and did so on 29 minutes as, with a numerical advantage, they went wide to where Haylett-Petty finished very well.  That was the beginning of a dominant spell in opposition territory for the visitors, but they couldn't make it count as the half ended 14-10.

The Boks enjoyed the better of the early second-half sparring and came close to extending the lead but for Jantjies' penalty coming up short.  However, they would continue to dominate in the 22 of Australia, who had lost Taniela Tupou to the sin-bin for a dangerous clear-out.

The pressure eventually told on 56 minutes as quick hands coupled with offloading in contact allowed Nkosi to go over on the right for 21-10.

South Africa were now motoring with Jantjies claiming his brace on 63 minutes, racing in on the blindside of a ruck to make it a 28-10 buffer.

Australia desperately needed the next score and they got it when Kurtley Beale's break and offload found Foley who crossed to cut the gap and with it take the try bonus-point away from the Springboks.  Therefore with 10 minutes to play there was plenty still riding on the game.

But South Africa ultimately managed to reclaim that bonus point in the final play of the game as Reinach darted over to secure the five points, putting down a marker to their Rugby Championship rivals as they now prepare to head to Wellington where New Zealand lie in wait.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries:  H Jantjies 2, De Jager, Nkosi, Reinach
Cons:  E Jantjies 5
Yellow Card:  Esterhuizen

For Australia:
Tries:  Haylett-Petty, Foley
Cons:  Foley 2
Pen:  Foley
Yellow Card:  Tupou

South Africa:  15 Warrick Gelant, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Francois Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Beast Mtawarira
Replacements:  16 Schalk Brits, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Dillyn Leyds

Australia:  15 Tom Banks, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Reece Hodge, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper
Replacements:  16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 Kurtley Beale

Referee:  Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees:  Matthew Carley (England), Karl Dickson (England)
TMO:  Rowan Kitt (England)

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Saturday 13 July 2019

Four-try Fiji stun Maori All Blacks

Fiji made a statement of intent in their opening game of a two-match series against the Maori All Blacks when they beat their New Zealand rivals 27-10 in Suva on Saturday.

The result is an historical one for the Pacific Islanders as it is their first triumph over the Maori All Blacks since 1957.

Fiji outscored their visitors by four tries to two with Waisea Nayacalevu leading the way with a brace and Viliame Mata and Alivereti Veitokani also crossed the whitewash.  The rest of their points came via the boot of Ben Volavola, who slotted two conversions and a penalty.

The Maori All Blacks' points came courtesy of two tries from Sean Wainui.

The home side dominated from the outset and led 12-0 at half-time after Veitokani and Mata scored their tries.

Just before the interval, the visitors were reduced to 14 men when Otere Black was yellow carded for a cynical defensive foul inside his 22 and Fiji made full use of their numerical advantage when Nayacalevu crossed for his first try early in the second half.

Volavola also added a penalty shortly after the restart but the Maori All Blacks struck back with Wainui's two tries after Black returned from the sin bin.

The home side finished stronger, however, and sealed a memorable win when Nayacalevu scored his second try in the game's closing stages.

The scorers:

For Fiji:
Tries:  Veitokani, Mata, Nayacalevu 2
Cons:  Volavola 2
Pen:  Volavola

For Maori All Blacks:
Tries:  Wainui 2
Yellow Card:  Black

Fiji:  15 Alivereti Veitokani, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Lepani Botia, 11 Eroni Sau, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Semi Kunatani, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Albert Tuisue, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements:  16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Kalivati Tawake, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Nemani Nagusa, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Sevanaia Galala, 23 Patrick Osbourne

Maori All Blacks:  15 Fletcher Smith, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Otere Black, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Mitch Karpik, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Ross Wright
Replacements:  16 Nathan Harris, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Pari Pari Parkinson, 20 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Jordan Hyland

Referee:  Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant referees:  Nic Berry (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)

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